The Alameda County Registrar of Voters must certify the election results by the 28th day after the election. The City Council will certify the results and the new members will be sworn in at the next regular meeting after the Registrar certifies the election.

Election FAQs

1.When do we get official election results?The Alameda County Registrar of Voters must certify the election results by the 28th day after the election. Please contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at 510-267-8683 or www.acgov.org/rov/current.htm for up to date results.

The City Council will certify the results and the new members will be sworn in at the next regular meeting after the Registrar certifies the election.

2. When do all the campaign signs come down?Signs for candidates and ballot measures are required to be removed 15 days after Election Day. Candidates and committees may face fines if signs are not removed from public right-of-ways, which includes medians, sidewalks, parks, utility boxes and poles.

Residents who see political signs on public property in Berkeley, should report sign locations to the campaign committees, who are responsible for taking them down. If the phone number is not listed, or you would like the contact information for one of the ballot measure committees, please call the City Clerk Department at 510-981-6900.

3. What does it take to win a Council seat?Under the Ranked-Choice Voting system, a candidate for Mayor, Auditor, or City Council must receive a majority (50% + 1) of votes to be elected.

4. How does the Rent Board election work?Rent Board Commissioners are elected by a plurality vote. The terms are four years.

5. How does the School Board election work?School Board Directors are elected by a plurality vote. The terms are four years.

6. What does it take for a ballot measure to pass?Bond measures and certain other special taxes generally require a 2/3 majority vote. Initiaves, referendum measures, and charter amendments require a simple majority vote.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014 - Today is Election Day! Polls are open from 7am - 8pm. Polling Places may change from election to election - be sure to verify your polling location by checking the the Voter Pamphlet/Sample Ballot you received in the mail or checking online with the Registrar of Voters online lookup tool.

Vote-by-Mail voters may drop off their voted vote-by-mail ballot at the Berkeley City Clerk Department (2180 Milvia Street, 1st Floor) Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm through November 3. On election day, vote-by-mail voters may drop their ballot at any polling place in Alameda County. Your vote-by-mail ballot must be in the return envelope provided and the envelpe must be signed by the voter as indicated.

The November 4 election will feature seven citywide ballot measures as well as races for City Council, City Auditor, School Board and Rent Board. Candidate profile pages for each race in addition to all of the ballot arguments can be found online.

Important Election Reminders for Berkeley Voters! Please be advised that the City Clerk Department will not serve as an Early Voting site for future elections. To cast your vote prior to Election Day, you must obtain a Vote-by-Mail ballot from the Registrar of Voter’s office at the County Courthouse in Oakland. Please contact the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at 510-267-8683 or www.acgov.org/rov for complete details.

If you received a Vote-by-Mail Ballot in the mail, your ballot must be RECEIVED by the Registrar of Voters by the close of the polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

You may drop off your voted Vote-by-Mail Ballot at any of the following locations (your ballot must be sealed inside the yellow return envelope):

The Registrar of Voters’ Office at 1225 Fallon Street in County Courthouse in Oakland - cross streets Oak and 12th (until 8:00p.m.)

Any polling place in Alameda County (until 8:00 p.m.)

Call the Registrar of Voters at 510-267-8683 for the following questions: